I was grounded for a week. Sure, considering the circumstances, I could handle a week.
Though, I thought I'd get more respect for helping save the world... obviously not.
Rude.
Despite my constant yearning for Lloyd, it actually felt nice to just lay low and recover. I had a lot more injuries than I counted for, so having the ability to sleep in 'till noon was a god send. Besides, space wasn't always bad. We both had a traumatic week. Space was probably a good thing. For both of us.

I wasn't one to disobey my mother and she knew that. Mum had no problem with leaving the house for work. She trusted me and I wasn't about to disgrace that trust. Besides, I might've needed it later on. It's always good to keep your bases covered.
One downside was that I had nightmares. Kinda bad nightmares. The wake-up-shivering-and-sweating-and-crying kind of nightmares. I shrugged them off when mum queried, as I guessed it was pretty normal for me to have nightmares after what we all went through. It was normal for me to wake up sweating and shaking and crying. That didn't give me a reason to not hate it, though. I loathed the nightmares. I cursed them. I woke up looking for a sign of Lloyd, just to make sure he wasn't still possessed and the fight against the Preeminent and the whole I-love-you's really happened.
Apparently, it did. And apparently I was still confused.

I-love-you's are a huge thing. Sure, adrenaline-pumping, on-the-verge-of-death, we-might-not-see-each-other-again kind of scenarios, it's okay to say an I-love-you. It's normal. It feels right. Afterwards, when everything has calmed down and we can evaluate the situation, that's the time when we can go what-the-fuck.
I'm not saying that I don't love Lloyd - I do, god, I love him so much, but that's not the problem. The whole I-love-you spot that we found ourselves in during the fight, it almost felt needed. I wasn't sure of how genuine it was. I know I loved Lloyd, but I wasn't sure if that was the right time and I wasn't certain of how genuine Lloyd was. It made me worried. I hate being worried.

Unfortunately, Mum had taken my phone, so any communication with Lloyd was a no-go, unless I wrote. I didn't even have his address, though. Maybe a pigeon would work. Or an owl.
I would've hung out with Aaliyah, Naomi and Claire for a distraction and to catch up, but they weren't answering their emails. I mean, valid, as I never really check my emails either, but it still kinda stung. I wanted to tell them all about what happened and what shit went down, though I knew that I couldn't do that to Lloyd. I just wanted somebody to talk about it with. My mother didn't count because she didn't even like to hear about the danger we were in. I couldn't blame her. That was some messed-up shit.

The week, although nice to chill and recover by bingewatching my Netflix shows cuddled up in Lloyd's freshly washed hoody (that I totally did not steal what are you saying), moved by rather sluggishly. I had nothing to do to quickly pass the time. I caught up to Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I caught up to Steven Universe. I finished both Avatar and Legend of Korra. I caught up with Boku No Hero Academia. I was so deathly bored.

It was four days in to my punishment when there was a tap on my window in the middle of the night. I was immediately on edge, my mind running with ridiculous thoughts of goblins and trolls and demons and ghosts and - wait, it's just Lloyd.
Who else would come a-tapping in the middle of the night? I rolled my eyes at my paranoid half before shoving back the curtain and opening the window, letting the gleeful ninja slip in.

"What are you doing?" I whispered in amusement as he sprawled out on my bed. He had countless of bandages and plasters dotting his skin; his t-shirt proudly showing off his injured arms like some kind of warrior's pride or something. His happy green eyes slid to meet mine.
"I missed you."
Awww. We're going to be in so much fucking trouble.
"You can't be here," I reminded with a disappointed frown. "I'm still grounded. If mum found out, she'd kill us."

Lloyd shrugged, undeterred.
"I'm a ninja. She won't find out," he shook his head and crawled up to kneel before me. He titled his head to the side like a confused puppy and pouted at my face. "You've got a bruise on your... everywhere."
I grinned weakly, flopping my bruised and scraped arms onto my lap.
"Yep," I replied, unfazed. "That's what I get for saving your ass. Plus, I think you really underestimate my mother... are you feeling better?"
Lloyd shrugged, dropping his gaze as he scrunched his nose distastefully.
"A little, I guess," he said glumly. "I'm not allowed to leave the Monastery."
"You're a very rule-abiding ninja, clearly."
"Aw, c'mon, not you, too."
I smiled, pushing a lock of his moonlit silver-blonde hair back. His green irises were dark in the shadows. I narrowed my eyes in scrutiny.
"You're very ethereally pretty, Lloyd."

He frowned, unpleased.
"I'm not pretty," he denied, shaking his head. "I'm a guy."
"You're literally living proof that what you just said is irrevocably invalid."
"But I can't be a pretty boy, pretty boys are weak!" Lloyd argued childishly while I snorted at his amused determination to prove me wrong. "I mean, just look at kpop boy bands."
I couldn't help but let out a loud, bellowing laugh before Lloyd slammed his hand on my mouth to stop me from alerting my mum of his presence. Oh my god oh my god oh my god I'm dying!
"That's- that's just a stereotype, Lloyd," I snickered, struggling to breathe and shaking my head. "Besides, kpop boy bands are very successful. Seriously, people go crazy over them."

"Anyway," Lloyd stressed dramatically, changing the topic. "How's your week of solitude been?"
"Well, your hoody is my new best friend, so I think it's been pretty successful."
Lloyd grinned before suddenly frowning.
"Hey, that's unfair," he began, standing up and stomping to my closet. "You've got something of mine but I don't have something of yours. I'm taking a hoody, too."
I decided not to question him, instead just huffing a laugh and shrugging a shoulder.
"By all means."
Taking my answer to heart, Lloyd threw open my closet doors and began shuffling through my hanging clothing. He stopped dead before pulling out a tiny pink tutu. All laughter drained from my face.
"Put that back."
"You did ballet!"
"Put that back."
"That's adorable."
"Lloyd, I swear to g-"

Lloyd grinned at the tutu before putting it back and sending me an aloof glance.
"I mean, I did ballet," he said nonchalantly. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Y/n."
I paused.
"Wait... you did? You... you did ballet?"
Lloyd shrugged, tugging down a scarf and throwing it around his neck.
"Yeah, it helps with core strength and balance," he said, snuggling his chin into the grey wool. "B-T-Dubs, this is mine, now."
"That's my favourite scarf, though."
"That's my favourite hoody."
I sent him an odd look.
"You've got five other green hoodies that are exactly the same brand and model."
"So? We're a thing now. What's mine is yours and what-not."

I froze. Lloyd grabbed a cap and flopped it on his head lazily.
"We- we are?" I questioned, stammering. My face began to heat. Should I question him on the I-love-you or..?
Lloyd glanced back, obviously taken off-guard by his own words.
"I... I don't know?" he replied honestly. "Are we?"
"I don't know."
"Shall we discuss this at a later date?"
"Procrastination? That's my specialty."
Lloyd and I firmly nodded with lips in a grim, tight line before breaking into small, snorting giggles.
"No, but seriously, you need to go," I said at the next point of silence. Lloyd groaned, dropping his head back.
"But it took me so long to walk all the way here!"
"You did not walk, Lloyd. You flew on your elemental dragon," I shook my head and called his bluff. He sheepishly grinned. "I'm not daft, you adorable idiot."

"We're already becoming one entity," Lloyd shook his head before flopping onto the bed beside me. "There's almost no point at keeping us seperate. We may as well be married."
"Whoa-ho, Greenie," I began ludicrously, face bright red. "That's a little fast. At least take me out on a date first."
Lloyd laughed.
"Uh, cough-cough, that was a hint, you dim lightbulb."
Lloyd's laughter abruptly stopped. He whipped his head to face me. "What?"
"You heard me," I said as I smiled and raised my eyebrows expectantly. My cheeks were burning. Ouch.
"I... I- reall.. really..?"
"Oh, my god," I dropped my head back onto my pillow. "Look, it's easy. Lloyd, will you go on a date with me?"

Lloyd suddenly leapt into action, grinning widely and scooping me up in his arms awkwardly because we were both already lying down.
"Yes!" he cheered. "I- I'll get everything planned - everything! Leave it to me! It'll be the best first date you have ever had!"
It'll be the only, apparently, but thanks.
I smiled, snuggling into his hug and linking my fingers through his.
"Anything you do will be perfect," I said softly, sinking into his chest as our legs began to tangle. "But don't over-exert yourself. You're still recovering."
Lloyd yawned, throwing the cap to the ground and tossing the scarf to the foot of the bed.
"Yes, mother," he replied snarkily. I mockingly slapped his chest.
"Manners," I reminded him. He chuckled, squeezing me tighter against him before closing his eyes and instantly falling asleep, leaving me in awe. How..?

Thankfully, because it was still two in the morning, it wasn't long before I fell asleep, too.

I woke up late and alone. I didn't mind it, I just hoped Lloyd got out before my mother found us. I know that she wouldn't hesitate extending one week to two.
Something on my bedside table caught my eye, making me squint past the blurriness of my vision to read the letters on the yellow post-it note stuck to the wood.
Love you :) - Greenie
My heart burst. Cutecutecutecutecute. I'm going to cherish that forever.
Smiling to myself and thoroughly enjoying the warm fluttering of my heart, I threw on my dressing gown and stumbled down the hallway, meeting mum in the kitchen, dressed and ready for work.
"Hi, monster," she teased, placing her breakfast bowl in the sink. "I was wondering if I was going to see you emerge this morning."
"I have graced you with my presence," I agreed, shuffling to the couch and collapsing down on it.

"Yeah, okay," she responded, unconvinced. Mum turned to me, leaning back on the kitchen bench and crossing her arms. "How's Lloyd?"
I paused, the warmth in my chest instantly disappearing.
"I- uh, I haven't been able to talk to him."
"I really don't think flying all the way here from the Monastery is good for his recovery," Mum commented with a pointed tone. I grimaced.
"I- I don't know w- what you're, ah-"
"Oh, please," Mum scoffed. "You act like I'm deaf. Lloyd and you were talking as loud as two old gossiping ladies. It's a wonder you didn't wake the whole neighbourhood."
"Oh, gods," I slammed my head into the armrest. "Mum, I'm so sorry! I should've of told him to leave as soon as he arrived, but he came all this way and - please don't tell his parents! Please don't-"
"Stop grovelling, dumbo," Mum snickered. "You don't have to worry. I know what it was like to be young and in love and happy - of course, then I had you-"
"Hey!"
"- thing is, I think you've been pretty good these past couple of days. You're off the hook."

I sat up, wide awake and blinking rapidly, as if my mother was just a hallucination and I still had another two days of confinement.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously," she repeated and nodded as she slipped on a cardigan. "But if I learn about Lloyd sneaking over here in the night without my permission, there will be punishments and I will tell his parents. I need to have at least some bad cop in me."
"You are the best mother!"
"Of course I am," she shrugged before grabbing something from the top of the fridge and chucking it at me. My phone. "Tell me if you're going anywhere - you've already skipped out on me once and it is not allowed to become a normal thing."
"Yes, yes, absolutely!" I cheered, leaping to my feet and embracing my mother in a tight hug. "This is- amazing! Thank you! I love you so much!"
"I love you, too," Mum chuckled, kissing the top of my head before splitting. "I gotta go. I'll see you tonight."
"Okay," I grinned. "See ya!"

As soon as I heard mum's car disappear down the road, I immediately whipped out my phone and dialled Naomi. She instantly picked up.
"Oh, my god," she cried down the line. "She lives! It's a miracle."
"Yeah, hardy-har," I grinned, wincing as a bruise on my arm brushed against the wall. "Hey, you wanna hang out sometime with the others before school starts?"
"Uh, yes," Naomi replied. "How does Thursday sound to you? I'll tell Aaliyah and Claire right now. They just stayed the night - I was going to invite you, but you weren't picking up your phone!"
"Oh," I commented, painfully aware of the cold, metal rod stabbing through my chest. My stomach dropped. "Yeah - yeah, no, my fault. I... was grounded and... and stuff."
Naomi paused, her breath hitching.
"Well, uh they're cool with it," she replied awkwardly. "We'll see you Thursday."
"See you Thursday," I mumbled before ending call and dropping my head onto the wall. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid."

Wow. Great. That made me feel awesome about myself.
And y'know what's also great? Having no clue what Lloyd and I are.
This fucking sucks.
I sniffed before pulling up my phone again and texting Lloyd. Time to settle... whatever this was.

We need to talk.

"I hope you know that texting a significant other 'we need to talk' gives them an impossibly large amount of anxiety," Lloyd commented when his dragon landed on my rooftop. I shrugged, grabbing his outstretched hand and sliding onto the saddle behind him. "Also, if you're doing something like skipping the country or dumping me, please do it sooner rather than later so I can have time to adjust before school starts."
I snorted at the end of his sentence, hugging his waist tighter as the dragon launched into the air.
"I'm not leaving you, Greenie," I shook my head. Lloyd released a loud, relieved sigh. "It's just... I'm confused and it's about something we need to talk over, anyway."

"Right..." Lloyd nodded as he pulled his dragon up to land out the front of the Monastery. "And while you discuss the boring stuff, I'll eat candy in an effort to recover!"
"No," I commented in amusement. "We both need to talk, lazy. It won't take long."
"I didn't realise you're so boringly serious," said Lloyd as the dragon disappeared. We landed on the gravel as I huffed a laugh.
"I'm not!" I snickered as we made our way up the stone steps. "I'm just being..."
"Serious," Lloyd finished with a look shot to my direction. I rolled my eyes, grinning.
"It's not so bad every once in a while," I coed. "You're serious a lot of the time, Green Ninja. You're a frickin' hypocrite."
Lloyd gasped and clutched at his chest.
"Your words mortally wound me," he said dramatically as we found ourselves out in the spiritual garden. The cherry blossoms were beginning to drop with the promise of the approaching autumn. "I am the epitome of child-like wonder and irresponsible actions."
"So, no date, then?"
Lloyd tilted his head and furrowed his eyebrows.
"I never said that."

I grinned, sitting on a rock and crossing my legs.
"Y'sure?" I pressed. "Cause last I heard, irresponsible people couldn't plan dates."
"I've been duped."
"Oh yeah," I smirked as Lloyd leant against a tree. "You've been duped hard."
Lloyd rolled his eyes and was about to retaliate when Dimitri appeared out of thin air. He greeted me with a grin.
"It's good to see you again, Y/n," he said. I waved a little and smiled back.
"Likewise," I replied. "Has everything kinda gotten back to normal?"
"Kinda gotten back to normal," he shrugged, smirking a little before turning to Lloyd, who was crossing his eyes and staring down his nose at random intervals. "It's time for your lesson, Master Lloyd?"

"Ooh, lesson?" I echoed, leaning forward in earnest. Lloyd froze. "What kind of lesson?"
"I- it's nothi-"
"His ballet lesson," Dimitri replied. He sent me an amused glance from the corner of his eyes. My jaw dropped.
"Dimitri!" Lloyd hissed, horrified. "What the hell, man?"
"Ballet?" I snorted. "What happened to 'It's nothing to be ashamed of, Y/n?' You look pretty embarrassed."
"I- it's not-!" Lloyd attempted to redeem himself in vain before admitting defeat and slumping his shoulders. "Nevermind. I'm boxed."
"Would you like to watch, Y/n?" Dimitri offered. I grinned. Lloyd groaned.
"Absolutely, Dimitri," I snickered.
"You and I are having a stern talk after this," Lloyd shot to the monk. Dimitri just chuckled, unfazed.
"Shush, Lloyd," I corrected smugly, getting to my feet and beginning to follow Dimitri down the flat-top stone path. "Go and put on your tutu, pretty boy."

While Lloyd disappeared to either screech at a wall or get ready (or both, simultaneously), Dimitri lead me to the training room where Garmadon was training the monks the last time I visited. Nya was there, as was Jay and Cole. Kai and Zane were retrieving the boom speaker and a phone.
"Oh, this is going to be great," I mumbled to myself gleefully. Nya leapt to her feet upon my entrance.
"Y/n!" she exclaimed in pleasant surprise, taking no time in grabbing me in a tight hug. "Long time no see, watergun buddy!"
"Oof- hi, Nya," I wheezed, giggling. "I missed you guys."
"Y/n!" Jay cried, making Cole glance up. They both broke into wide smiles and joined the hug.
"Oh- oh my go- goodness, you guys-"
We stumbled as Kai and Zane suddenly appeared, taking no time in joining - no questions asked.
"Hey! She's mine to hug and only me," Lloyd whined childishly. Nya hissed.
"Never!" she cried, hugging me tighter. I laughed.

"Alright, class!"
At that, everybody dispersed so fast, I got dizzy. With my surroundings back in my vision, I was able to connect the seemingly disembodied voice to a smartly dressed man in a brown suit, a black comb moustache and his hair parted down the side neatly. He had a cane and red moustache and bushy eyebrows and oh, he has to be related to Cole. The man spotted me, looking me up and down with a skeptical eye.
"You're not in dancing clothing - what are you doing in my class?"
"I- I'm sor-"
"She's Lloyd's girlfriend," Cole jumped in. The man's bushy eyebrows shot to his hairline. "She's here to watch."
"We're not da-!"
"Oh!" the man said, a smile beginning to grow. Uuuuhhfhhfjjfhfjdn. "In that case, I'm Liu, Cole's father-" aha! I fucking knew it! "-please, take a seat."

I smiled awkwardly before taking a seat against the wall and crossing my legs, watching as the team began to stretch and warm up.
Despite the joking, Lloyd really is an amazing ballet dancer - they all were. I couldn't tell much by professional standards, but they looked supple and strong. Besides, Lloyd stuck his tongue out a little when concentrating and if that's not adorable as hecc, I don't know what is.
Bar work was the most interesting to watch. Lloyd, Cole, Nya and Zane took their time to be precise and activating the correct muscles while Jay and Kai did the bare minimum to pass. Floor work like fan kicks, however, was Jay's forte. Nya was amazing at leaps and spins. Kai was incredible at stretches such as splits and that one where you curl your leg backwards and hold your foot so your body makes a giant P or whatever. Cole and Zane were outstanding all round. Lloyd obviously was trying his best in every section, taking his training seriously. I was blown away.

While focusing on Lloyd's face during the training session, my mind couldn't help but wander and suddenly I was remembering the future vision in the ice at the tomb.
My heart began to beat erratically at the memory, making me sink in against myself, hiding my face against my legs. The whole thing was so confusing and overwhelming - I was bursting at the seams, I didn't know who to tell. I couldn't tell Aaliyah, Naomi or Claire, for obvious reasons. Kai and Jay would just spill to everyone, Cole would probably tell me not to worry about it (which are the words that I did not need to hear) and Zane would probably wonder why I was freaking out so much. The Senseis and Misako... now that's just weird.
That left Nya. She's perfect. She's responsible enough to not tell a soul and she understands female emotion. Besides, we really bonded over the past couple of weeks.
That decided it.

After a solid hour of training, Liu finally let them off. Panting and sweating, the team began their cool downs. Before Lloyd could intercept, I quickly approached Nya as soon as Liu left.
"Hey, can I... can I talk to you?" I asked her, wringing my hands nervously as she stretched. I glanced amongst the others. "... privately."
Nya frowned at my nervous state before nodding and getting to her feet. We quickly scurried out while the boys were laughing at something probably gross and boyish.

"Right, what is that you wanted to talk about?" Nya asked as we ducked into her room. It was neat, red and blue colour schemed. There was a framed photo of her, Jay and Kai on her bedside table. A poster of the famous, classic action movie Lady Iron Dragon was stuck to her wall.
"Uh... it..." I took a seat on her bed, crossing my legs and facing Nya as she sat before me, bright eyed and curious. "It's... it's about the future visions. In the tomb."
Nya sat back a little in surprise.
"Oh," she replied. "What about them?"
I sighed, dropping my gaze to my fingers as the strangled each other.
"What... what did you see, Nya?"

Nya paused, taken aback, before her cheeks began to glow in a subtle hint of red.
"I... I saw Jay and I. Old. We looked happy," she smiled. "It was sweet. Why... what did you see?"
I hesitated, staring at the intricate gold embroidery of roses and other floral patterns on the dark red duvet cover.
"I... well... Lloyd was there and... and there was this thing-"
"Oh, my god, he shaved his head, too?"
"What?" I bursted, leaning back and sending Nya a befuddled look before laughing. "No!"
Nya grinned, shaking her head.
"Well? What was it then?"
I sighed.
"It was a ring."
"A... ring."
I nodded. "A ring."
"A... Oh, my god! Oh, my god, a ring!"
"... y- yeah."

Nya leapt to her feet, positively radiating excitement in smothering waves.
"You guys are gonna get married! That's- that's insane!" she breathed in awe before being struck with a thought and plopping down onto her behind once more. "Did you tell Lloyd?"
"Of course not!" I shook my head as I hugged one of her pillows. "It's not as if I can go up to Lloyd and say 'hey, remember when we were in the Tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master? Well, I got a glimpse into our future and hey, guess what? We're married!' I could never do that. If I did, nothing would ever feel genuine."
Nya shrugged a shoulder, frowning.
"I suppose you have a point," she said. "That's still... that's still some huge news. Does anyone else know?"
I shook my head.
"You're the first person I've told... and probably the only one I will tell," I replied. "I'm... I'm freaking out. We're not even official! We don't know what we're doing. Hell, we're only eighteen-seventeen!"

Something incomprehensible flashed in Nya's eyes.
"Yeah..." she said slowly, nodding her head. "Yeah, exactly. You're only teenagers. So, don't worry so much about it! You wouldn't marry him if either of you thought it didn't feel right."
I sighed, nodding.
"Yeah, you're right," I said quietly. "I'm just a little overwhelmed, I guess. It's probably best just to forget about it. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, and everything."
Nya nodded.
"Yeah, you're probably right."

I never did forget.